This week in sports gave us a more crystalized college football playoff, one hell of a match between the US and England, countless upsets in the World Cup, shocking outcomes in college and pro football, and Mikey made a trek to the movies. Wakanda Forever, was great. (This comment is not Strong Oak Collective Approved).
Top 5 Most Hated….
1. Fuck the Mac’n’Cheese eating Chris Beard. (Every time I write a reference to Mac ‘n ‘Cheese I laugh wondering if Marco has had to explain this comment to @VegasBlake). I cannot wait till Thursday, those fucking, dip shit Horns get Creighton. They quickly have Illinois after that. No chance they don’t take an L, if not 2.
2. Lubbock Community. This is like screaming into a vacuum, but why in gods’ creation can’t those lazy fucks not fill up a stadium? It did appear to be far fuller than it was for Kansas (Sans the Students), but that thing only gets 6 or 7 bites at the apple and it should be busting at the seams every Saturday. Funny thing, these are the ones also complaining we are losing 700 seats towards attendance with the renovations. Dumbass dust breathers.
3. I would like to not only have sports wagering legalized in the state of Texas (dumb its not), but I would also like to have the Big Teaser Card fedex’d to my house every week. Could you imagine what Henley’s status would be with Ceasers if he could mobile bet ridiculous amounts on Cal, or Nevada?
4. I re-read last weeks edition, and I cannot believe I didn’t mention my travel home from Vegas. I was up in my room by about 8pm on Monday, started throwing a few things in my bag, and thought to myself, maybe I should try and grab that red-eye home instead of waiting till 6am. I mean I wasn’t going to sleep either way, so would I rather be in my bed by 6am Texas time, or noon. Hop on the phone, plenty of seats available, no change fees, so I say fuck it. I am out. 1am departure, still have a ton of time to kill, but I pack, shower, cash in the ticket al left ($36 dollars?), venmo Al his winning, and then around 1130 I head out. I have 4 problems I will encounter on my trip home. #1 – Now I should have known something may not be going in my favor when I decide to order an Uber and I wait, and wait, and wait. Then I get an alert that says, you are now on your way. I mean WTF I am still standing in the same spot. So, I cancel, then shit starts. Text, email, and alerts asking if I am OK because I canceled a trip midride, then a phone call. I’m fine, I’m fine. Rebook, and the guy shows up and off we go. Mid trip another alert from Uber, you are getting charged for your airport fare since you cancelled mid trip. Oh fuck no, back on the phone, dealing with Uber, while in an Uber. Finally get that sorted out. Now I am at the airport and waiting. Waiting on a red eye is impossible, I cant sit down for risk of falling asleep, nothing is open, and 1am in a vegas airport is just “different”. So we board on time, got a window seat getting settled, I will be asleep in no time. #2, fucking Cheech and chong board and sit in my row. Its not a big deal, till middle seat guy falls asleep instantly and is all up in my fucking space. We haven’t even left yet. Fuck. I fight through, I can still make it work where I can somewhat sleep. #3 – Captain comes on, it there a passenger “so and So” on board, please proceed to the front of the plane. Its weird a pilot has to ask that, but 2, we are still boarding so we are going to have somewhat fight upstream to get to the front. Well, I don’t see anyone pas back, so maybe that dude was in 1st class. Yeah, well I was wrong, about 10 mins later, some armed peeps come on board to escort Mr. So and So off in handcuffs. Pilot “sorry fox, we will be delayed just a few mins, unfortunately we need to fill out some paperwork regarding this arrest on our plane”. Damn, well, should not be to long, maybe we are 5 or 10 mins late on departure. Stay awake, stay awake. Now #4 – Its been about 15 mins, pilot “sorry folks, we have realized one of our tires is flat, so we are waiting on them to replace it” . In my head I am like, “its probably hard to throw a nascar jack under a full ass plane”. So we wait, and wait, I doze off, we wait. Wake up to the pilot, “we are all set to go, sorry for the delay”. We are an hour late now, and I have slept for 20 mins, which means there is zero chance I fall back asleep for the next 3 hours. We leave and arrive and its pretty uneventful, I watch the entire Argentina vs Saudi Arabia game with Cheech in my fucking lap, sleeping in 45 second increments, but otherwise I was home around 745am. Still worth it.
5. I felt like such a drug dealer putting 2k worth of hundies (mostly from my Westgate collection for the Old fashioned bill) into the bank. Just felt weird.

Power sweep 7, best things I saw.
1. USA tying England was next level greatness. I say that today, if we shit the bed vs. Iran then it is basically a meaningless tie. We took the game to them for the middle 70 mins. Didn’t sit back and play defense, you could argue we had 3 of the best 5 chances all game. Getting out of this group would be great and will pay itself forward in 4 years. In terms of FIFa rankings go, this is the toughest group.
2. Thanksgiving Lunch, yes I said Lunch, anyone who eats thanksgiving for dinner is just a neanderthal. I steer clear of most things offered, Give me Stuffing, a little turkey, some potato’s and green bean casserole. Everything else is just the man trying to funnel money to Big Cranberry, or Big Roll.
3. I am so happy USC is kicking ass. It makes me happy how Lincoln just stole the OU spirit and soul when he left, took their best players and is now about to win a Heisman and get into the playoff. I absolutely love how this played out.
4. I normally find myself on the Ohio State side of “The Game”, no real reason, just seems how I tend to root during a game. With that, what Michigan did to Ohio State on both sides of the ball was simply amazing. That was just Man Football. Ryan Day (and his non-naturally colored beard) just were flat embarrassed on their home field. They got Baylor’d. Its always great when you see a team impose their will.
5. The world cup has been a blast. Usually, its blue bloods running over teams, the same 7-10 make the final 8 every 4 years, rinse and repeat. Maybe that will hold form when we get to the knockouts, but I don’t recall a group stage so full or upsets. Morocco over Belgium. Saudi Arabia over Argentina, Japan over Germany. Been a fun watch. What’s not so fun…Concacaf. Woof, Canada, USA, Mexico, and Costa Rica. I mean Costa Rica has the only win (1-0 over Japan) and they lost 7-0 to Spain. USA has 2 ties (1 goal scored), Mexico a loss and a tie (no goals scored), and Canada has 2 loses (1 goal scored, given up 5). The USA is basically the only chance of a team going through. #looksbad.
6. Coaching silly season is here. I love it, coupled with bowl season, I find it so interesting how teams move the chess pieces to get “their guy”. I think last years maneuvering by Kirby and co. no matter how things were perceived nationally, was next level. We grabbed McGuire early and turned him lose on recruiting with Blanchard and got so much momentum to close last years class, but also got a jump on this years class. I mean football recruiting for tech is boring now, this class was locked up in April basically. Polar opposite of the boredom of Wells recruiting. BTW I think Fickell to Wisco is a homerun, not so sold on Rhule. Rhule won’t have Texas to recruit from to rebuild his roster, and wont have McGuire to help with the high schools. I am curious if Rhule makes a run at Blanchard……(shut my whore mouth)
7. Messi is about to sign with MLS to start next season. I will be in attendance in Houston and/or Dallas when he comes through. Arguably the best player to step on the pitch, I get he is far from the same player, but just a chance to see his greatness in person is must see TV. But in person.

Texas Tech Red Raiders 51 (burger) – Oklahoma Sooners 48…In Overtime.
What a painful way to arrive at Tech’s 7th win, but hey, Tech finishes the regular season with 7 wins and will go to the best bowl game they have been to in several years. McGuires 1st season was not without difficulties, 3 qbs, 1000 4th down calls, new staff, 3 field stormings (please stop this shit), a horrible home loss with everything on the line, and a huge win on the road when you needed it the most. To say this season delivered on taking years off the end of my life is an understatement. We still have a shot at 8 wins, which I think was a pie in the sky hope before the season started, we have all the momentum you could ask for. This game against OU was just a microcosm of the season, highs and lows, moments of brilliance, and moments of WTF. Let’s break this down.
10 things that made it move.
1. The first thing on the bad side, is how the game started, but in the good, how this team as a whole responded to going down 17-0 and 24-6. From the 6:25 mark of the 2nd after Mims walked from Plainview into the endzone, Tech scored a TD at the 3:09 mark, another at the 1:28 mark and a FG going into half with no time left and virtually tie the game at 24. In the 1st qtr I nearly went to watching Andor, I want nothing to do with watching a team quit, which forces me to be in such a shitty mood. That’s what’s different about the “new” tech. Never quit and never give up. Good coaching. Great motivating.
2. I rarely have the offense as a unit in the goods, this season has been stop and start all year for the offense. After starting the game, 1 play, turnover; 5 plays, 13 yards, punt; 3 plays -7 yards, punt; and 5 plays, 27 yards and punt. From there we went TD, punt, TD, TD, FG, TD, punt, TD, punt, TD, INT, FG, and FG. Not perfect by any stretch, but certainly enough against a porous D. We needed every single one of those points as well.
3. Last week I mentioned how much we will miss Merriweather, you can absolutely say the same about Sarodrick. He is not the best RB we have ever had, but I find it hard to recal one that ran harder and was such a team leader. He was a KK recruit and made it through Wells to get to McGuire. Remember when we argued whether it was him or Henry for the starter. 5 years later, what a dumb argument. Ran for 86 on the ground, and another 35 through the air, and I think his hard as runs in the 2nd qtr spurred the comeback. He will go down as one of my favorite Red Raiders.
4. Should had his best game statistically since he arrived at Tech. I think if Morton is in this game, we don’t win. That’s not to say Shough is any better, but Shough gives you the checks that comes with experience, he pulled down and ran at all the right times, and boy can he throw the deep ball. Completes 31 passes for 436 and 2 TDs. 1 bad INT and about 10 others that were nearly picked. He has problems throwing those quick outs, either they sail 50 yards over the head, or get nearly picked. No zip really on those. Other than that, great game and he deserves the credit for bringing that home.
5. The defense played like dogshit, total and complete dogshit. I want to highlight 5 guys though. Aderire, Issac Smith, Wooten, Hullaby and Minor. All these guys made plays, especially Smith and Aderire. These guys are all Freshman or true Sophomores. Adierire is a freshman, and boy will he be a problem going forward. Its nice to see some youth popping, we are so loaded with veterans, and will likely be next year as well. Another year of this scheme and we should be pretty salty on D next year.
6. I think we saw Donovan Smiths last game at the Jones, and man I am going to miss that guy so much. He epitomizes what McGuire wants in the culture of this team. Loses the job in the fall, stays the course. Gets yanked for Morton, stays the course. Gets passed by Shough and stays the course. He made a difference since he basically did anything to help the team. A college version of Taysom Hill. It would be an incredible luxury if he stuck around, but I think Cumbie would love to have him at La Tech, and I will be a fan for sure!
7. Kittley is much maligned. Some of it I totally get, and I think it is warranted, but mostly I don’t get it. As mentioned, 3 qbs, a terrible OL for most of the year, no outside treats on the outside, etc, etc. He is catching haymakers on the socials for how the game started, but we finished with 600 yards of total offense in Saturday’s game. We finished nationally #23 in total O, #32 in Scoring O, #12 in passing O and #8 in red zone O. Pretty salty from a guy the was a grad assistant a few years ago under KK. Let’s let the cake bake before we go calling for this kid’s head.
8. Jerard Bradley had his breakout game. This guys has 1st rounder written all over him. He is a huge dude, that can catch and run. Imagine if he was complimented with a speed outside guy to open up things underneath. I think he will get that, and you will see this dude flourish. How he has gotten behind defenses most of the year is beyond me, but what a game and I think this guy will be a superstar.
9. Holy fucking shit. We had a long return from the special teams group. Forget what happened after the return, we finally had a return. We were 3/3 on FG’s, clutch ones too, and 6 punts with nearly a 50 yard average. Our best special team’s game of the season.
10. Tech finished 7-5, 5-4 in conference, and 6-1 at home. All of this with the 5th hardest schedule in the country. Oh and 2-0 against the SEC. Great 1st season!
10 things that gave me ED
1. The fucking defense was an embarrassment Saturday. I haven’t typed that all year. Tech gave up 672 yards. We really missed Tyree for sure, and having Pierre out for a chuck wasn’t great either. Just a shitstorm for 5 hours.
2. The penalty bug bit us bad as well. Mostly the repeated pass interference calls. 9 for 63, those were the accepted penalties. We were flagged for pi a few times and they still made the catch.
3. The defense as a whole sucked, but the secondary was flat god awful. This is most troubling because they are the most veteran unit on the whole team. Torched deep, pass interference, jumping runs, etc, they were terrible all game. Pierson, had it not been for 2 game changing hits, would probably be the worst of them all.
4. Lost the turnover battle…..Again. Take three rarely showed up all season, Saturday no difference. One of the turnovers was just a backbreaking way to start a game. We have all the momentum and run an end around that results in a terrible turnover. We can argue the call or the player, but it was an awful start. OU scored in 4 plays of which the final play was a 4th and 2, and again we get burned for a long TD on a 4th down.
5. Tech has done a masterful job of one side of the ball picking up the other all season. Not on Saturday, both the offense and defense came out flat. I can’t remember a worse 1st qtr. Tech had a turnover to open the game, then ran 13 plays for a combined 22 yards on offense. The defense gave up 17 points and 234 yards of offense. Just gutted and flat.
6. Tech made Dillon Gabriel look like Baker Mayfield. Gabriel started at UCF around the same time Marco was slinging shrubs at the Jupiter Lane Home Depot. 449 yards and 6, yep 6 TDS. Its easy to look like Unitas when you just throw up 50 yards jump balls. But either way, OU has 1 player, Mims, that might be drafted off of that team, and we made him look like Crabtree. (BTW, congrats Crabs)
7. Judging off that performance Saturday. Eric Grey is getting a Heisman call. 161 yards rushing, nearly 6 yards a carry. Had zero pressure in the backfield and Grey ran right through us like a Mac’n’cheese and beef sandy.
8. I loved and hated the final drive of regulation. It served its purpose of running out the clock. We took over with 4 mins and the ball on our 25. Drove to OU’s 28 to leave a 43 yarder for the tie. So good we ran out the clock, but there was meat on that bone with that FG. I think it turned on the Shough 3rd down run that left us with a 4th and inches. He gets the 1st we may go for the win, but a rough spot basically put us in a position to run it out and prey.
9. Another game, another 1 catch by a TE for Texas Tech….Sigh…..
10. Sadly, the regular season is over. January till August takes forever on the sports calendar, then September through December flies by. College football is just the best thing ever. Betting on it only makes it better, like sex on extasy, right Mort? Now sports sadness slowly creeps in and I have to talk to my wife, wait, listen to my wife for 7 months. Boo.

Another edition in the books and now we wait for the bowl selection, but honestly, we could play anywhere, just want to see them roll out there one last time before this team is put to bed. I will keep plugging away on these, still have world cup, and Tech hoops to discuss, may not be the lengthy long reads, but maybe more frequent shorter versions. I guess ill solicit feedback, which I wont get, but alas, lets go USA lets make Iran out middle eastern bitch. Like usual.